Turkey and Ham Casserole
- Filling:
- 50g butter
- 3 leeks, cut into rounds
- 30g plain flour
- 100ml white wine
- 500ml chicken stock
- 100ml double cream
- 400g cooked turkey (or chicken), diced
- 150g ham, diced
- 2 tarragon sprigs, leaves finely chopped
- 100g peas, defrosted
- 6 cubes of frozen spinach, defrosted
- salt and black pepper
- Stuffing crust:
- 100g breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, grated
- 100g chestnuts, grated
- 50g dried cranberries, soaked in warm water (optional)
- 2 tsp dried sage
- small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
- large knob of butter
1. First, make the filling. Heat the butter in a large flameproof casserole dish. When it has melted, add the leeks with plenty of seasoning and turn down the heat. Cover the dish with a lid and leave the leeks to cook gently until tender. Stir regularly and try not to let them take on any colour.
2. Stir the flour into the dish to form a roux around the leeks. Add the wine and stir vigorously – it will thicken considerably. Gradually add the stock, stirring constantly, until you have incorporated it all, then add the cream. Fold in the turkey or chicken, ham, tarragon and peas. Squeeze any excess water from the spinach, then stir the spinach into the dish. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.
3. To make the topping, mix the breadcrumbs, onion, chestnuts, drained cranberries and the herbs, then season with plenty of salt and pepper. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the filling, then dot with butter. Bake in the oven for 25–30 minutes until the filling is bubbling and breaking through the crisp, golden-brown topping.
The Hairy Bikers’ One Pot Wonders by Si King and Dave Myers is published by Seven Dials in hardback at £22. Photography by Andrew Hayes-Watkins.
